Ch 23
Venic brought the bag of food with her as she settled in the room with the others.
"What did you get?" The Doctor asked them.
"Sweets from the Purple Shop and sandwiches!" Theon chipped.
"That sounds lovely." He hummed.
Theon looked up at River. "Why were you sleeping all morning?"
"Well...I..." She hesitated, looking at the Doctor, not knowing if she should answer the question honestly. He shrugged back at her, letting her make the decision as he helped distribute the food. "I'm going to have a baby and when you're going to have a baby you need lots of rest." She explained a bit hesitantly.
"Weavers don't need rest." Rai said, a bit confused "They just... go and make people."
"Well, I'm not a Weaver." River smiled softly.
"Are you making it with your belly?" Thoen asked.
He earned an elbow from his sister. "You can't just ask people that, Theon!"
"It's alright, I don't mind. Yes, I am."
He looked excited. "Really? How does that work?"
"I think that's something you should ask your mummy and daddy when you're a bit older."
"Does it take a long time?" Rai asked. "Theon's the only baby I've seen."
"It takes about eight months." River murmured.
Theon pouted. "So we don't get to see it? I wanna see it."
"Yes, I'm afraid you probably won't get to see it. It's still very small right now."
"And it grows?" He looked at her middle. She nodded, moving the blankets a bit so he could see. "Why don't the city people like it when people growing babies in their bellies?"
The Doctor answered since River didn't actually know the reason. "It's not a very nice answer, Theon. Rassilon's reasons... were rather selfish." He gently told the boy.
"But how come." Theon persisted.
"He wanted control over people. And when someone grows a baby, it's very common to use up regeneration energy to make sure the baby is extra healthy and strong. Rassilon thinks it's a waste.
"Oh..." The boy frowned, trying to process the answer.
Rai quickly changed the subject. "I wanna eat the sweets now."
Theon's attention was quickly drawn back to the candy, bouncing eagerly. Rai got up and got the sweets out, giving them out to everyone. "These are my favorites!" She informed as she passed them out.
"It's been ages since I've had a Somblam." The Doctor murmured, looking at River. "Fair warning: they puff up in your mouth."
She stuck the candy in her mouth, humming at the new sensation. Theon giggled as he ate his candy.
The children asked for more stories as they ate, wanting to learn more about the Doctor and River. The adults knew their stories had to pre-date their children since the majority of the past 14 years of their lives had been centered around them. The Doctor started a story about the time at the Bone Meadows, letting River jump in with details and add-ons.
The two children both were very interested in learning as much as they could from the adults, asking all sorts of questions just as they had done previously. They ended up talking for a couple hours, all the questions leading to more stories and more questions in turn. It was a nice distraction for the adults from all that was happening.
Eventually the children left, having to be home to help with chores, leaving the Doctor and River alone again, Venic going off entertain herself.
The Doctor had slipped his hand into River's about two stories ago and was currently tracing his thumb over the back of her palm absentmindedly. "They're very sweet, aren't they."
She nodded, "Yes, they are...They make me miss..."
"Me, too." He murmured.
"We need to come up with a plan on how we're going to get out of here."
He nodded. "There's TARDISes in the Capital. And there's Ohila if we can contact her, but that would also mean going to the Capital." He thought aloud. "But I don't think... we can't leave unless we know we won't be followed. 'Else this whole chase will start right over again."
"Of course, but figuring out how to get Them off of our tracks still requires a plan. Do you know what they want with us?" She still only had half the information.
"From what I can tell, they want to use us- use you, to figure out what or whom the Hybrid is. Since the Hybrid is prophesied to destroy Gallifrey, they'll want to destroy it before it can… And since they think it may be you..." He paused and looked away for a moment. "It's either that or wait for the prophecy to play out."
She sat for a minute, not speaking. "Perhaps...we could fake my death."
"Fake your death?" He echoed curiously.
"If they think I'm gone, then maybe we can get them off of our trail." She explained.
He nodded slowly. "How would we go about that?"
"I don't know, I haven't figured that part out yet. The thing is, after what they did to me in the Capital, it wouldn't be very far fetched to claim that I died."
"A claim needs evidence. They won't hesitate to raze this town if they think it's a lie."
She frowned slightly, "You're right..."
He thought about what Rai and Theon would think if they faked River's death, which pulled at his hearts. Then he thought about the High Council what they might do to the children for their association with him and River and that made him feel even worse. "If we created a medicine that allowed you to stop showing symptoms of life without actually killing you, that might work."
"Would it be safe for the baby?" She asked.
"If I worked with the Healers, we could make sure it was."
She nodded slowly, "That could work then."
"You know, it's very likely that They may end up coming here before we're able to go to the Capital."
"But that would be detrimental to this town. I want to try and do this as soon as possible to try and prevent that from happening."
"I should talk to the Healers tonight, then. I can wait for Venic to get back if you want." He murmured.
"Okay." She closed her eyes.
"Can I ask you something, Riv?"
She nodded.
"Do you remember, the morning after Oktoberfest and we were in the bath?" She nodded again, slower this time, sensing where this was going. "You knew about that baby... and you drank the champagne."
She tensed and nodded, "Yes...I did."
"You drake three flukes." He added in a quiet voice.
"I know..." She closed her eyes, "And I know I shouldn't have..."
"Why did you, then?" His voice wasn't accusing, more trying to understand.
"I don't know..." She sighed, "It started as a way to keep you from getting suspicious. I've read that it's okay to have just one glass, and it was just going to be a couple sips, but then I got upset and I didn't think..."
He squeezed her hand, now starting to have a different understanding of just how upset his dying had made her if she'd been mindless enough to drink so much. "I don't know why I bring it up, it just came to my mind." He said apologetically. "But you know, the Healers and the regeneration energy would likely have, em, stopped any damage."
"And I'm very grateful for that." She avoided his gaze.
He realized the topic had probably made her think about his regeneration again, so he tried to change the subject. "Dinner? I can make something before I talk with the Healers."
"Sure." She gave him a weak smile, "That would be nice. I'd be happy to help."
"You're still on bed rest," He reminded, "but I don't think it's against the rules to come keep me company if you're sitting."
She squeezed his hand again, "Will you help me into the kitchen."
He nodded, giving her a hand up. She leaned against him, walking steadily to the other room. Once she was settled, he looked through what the other's had bought. There were a few meat choices, eggs, leaves of a plant he couldn't quite remember the name of, some rice, and a brown liquid that was either a sauce or a drink. He went for the meat and rice.
"Are you sure you remember how to cook?" River asked, one hand resting against her abdomen.
"Pan, fire… I think it'll be alright." He teased. "Though if I burn it, you don't have to eat it."
She smiled softly, "I don't mind a bit of burnt food and I don't think the baby would either."
He smiled back, putting the white ground meat on the pan. "This is ja'Thkiu, by the way. It lives in the river. Think of turtle, except it's not green and it doesn't have a shell... actually forget the turtle."
She hummed, "It's interesting habitat… so cold a place to live."
"It usually doesn't live there, it just hunts there." He informed, going on to talk about what he knew of the creature.
She listened intently, "You're brilliant." She complimented once he had finished.
He started dishing out the food. "Just a bit of local knowledge. Here."
"Yes, but you remember so much about Gallifrey. It's like you never left..."
He sat across from her. "One never truly forgets where they come from but I don't regret leaving, River."
She shrugged, trying to think of her childhood, but drawing large blanks. "I just meant that it's impressive you're always able to store so much information in your head."
"Never know when you might need it."
Venic returned just then.
"Thank you for taking the children to the market." River smiled, "The Doctor made dinner if you'd like some."
"I'd love some." She helped herself to what was left in the pan. "How are you feeling, Professor?"
"A bit tired and nauseous, but I suppose that's normal."
She nodded. "But if you feel like you can't keep dinner down, I can give you something."
"Thank you, but I think I'll be alright. The Doctor and I actually wanted to talk to you about something..."
"What is it?" She asked, attentive.
"Well, we were wondering if you could help us make something that would be safe for the baby. We need to figure out a way to get off of Gallifrey without the High Council coming after us, so we wanted to make a medication that would make my and the baby's body stop showing signs of life without farming us." She explained.
Venic thought it over for a moment. "It would be difficult... but possible."
"We want to do this as quickly as possible. We don't want to put you and the town in danger for any longer than necessary."
"We were hoping to get started tonight." The Doctor added.
"Perhaps we can go to the Hut after dinner, it may be easier to work there."
He looked at River, hesitant about leaving her. River looked uncomfortable as well, not wanting to be alone in the cottage. "Would it be possible for you to stay with River?" He asked Venic. "Just in case... I can tell the others the plan."
Venic nodded, "Of course. I'd be happy to stay."
He relaxed, reaching for River's hand. She squeezed it tightly, still looking rather worried. "I'll only be a couple hours." He murmured.
"I know." She whispered, "But still, I don't like when you're not here."
"Think warm thoughts and I'll be back before you know it." He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
The three finished eating, Venic and the Doctor helping River back to bed after. The Doctor gave her a proper kiss, promising to be back soon.
"Be quick." She whispered, giving him one last kiss. Venic offered River something to drink as the Doctor left. She shook her head, stating that she was going to try and get some rest while the Doctor was gone.
When the Doctor returned, it was late. He'd been gone just a bit longer than he'd said, going back to their room. River was still up, not having been able to sleep without him there.
"You're awake." He murmured, toeing off his shoes.
"I couldn't sleep." She murmured, "How did it go?"
"They're on board with the idea." He settled next to her. "I go again in the morning."
She nodded, "That's good. Hopefully, you can get it done soon."
"Hopefully." He echoed. "What are you thinking about?"
"Our babies." She murmured, "What do you think they're doing right now?"
He thought. He didn't know what time it was in New York, but since it was night here, he went with night. "Getting scolded into brushing their teeth."
She smiled softly, "That sounds about right."
"And maybe getting told stories." He added, smiling as well.
"I hope nothing to bad." She murmured, taking his hand.
"They do have some stories, don't they?" He said. "They" was too general a word- one listening might not understand who he was referring to, but he knew that River knew he meant the Ponds, so it didn't matter all that much.
"They certainly do." She touched her nose to his shoulder.
"We ought to get some sleep." She nodded, squeezing his hand. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." She breathed, closing her eyes.